Two centuries ago, when men wore powdered wigs
and ladies never showed a bit of ankle, life was very different from what it is
today. As a matter of fact, very little of that society has been carried
over to today's way of life. We have today, however, one remnant of that
society - an impressive document that is as alive and important today as it was
on July 4, 1776 - the Declaration of Independence.
Back in 1776, after years of discontent with the rule of
England's George III, a group of colonists - members of the Continental
Congress - wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence. Although
little more than a sheet of paper, this document set a precedent for many of the
nations of the world. The Declaration stated that when a government failed
to protect the rights of its people to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness, "it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it." The
United States became the first colony of a major power in that day to break away
from colonial rule and declare independence.
Here, half a world away from home, we are helping the South
Vietnamese to solve a different, although parallel, problem. The people of
this country are living under a government which they themselves elected.
The people of South Vietnam are not trying to overthrow their government; they
are trying to insure that their government is not overthrown by a foreign power
whose idea of rule is dictatorial and tyrannical.
The spirit of '76 is still alive today. Here in Vietnam we
are demonstrating to the world that we still believe freedom and liberty to be
more than mere words found in the dictionary; we believe them to be precious
commodities well worth fighting and dying for.
Fashions may change, but ideals do not. And while the
powdered wigs have disappeared and ladies' ankles have appeared the
Declaration of Independence beats on as the heart of our nation. (Army
Press File)

Wolfhounds Thwart Attack By NVA Force

2D BDE - 25th Div infantrymen beat back an estimated NVA battalion
killing 71 following a predawn attack on their night position 11 kms northwest
of Saigon.
At 2:50 a.m., NVA soldiers attacked the 2d Bn, 27th Inf Wolfhounds.
Charging the barbed wire emplacements, they poured in 82 mm mortars and
.50 caliber machine gun and RPG fire.
Fierce fighting, supported by artillery, helicopter gunships and an
Air Force AC-47 "Spooky," continued until 5:30 a.m. when the North
Vietnamese withdrew, leaving 71 dead soldiers behind. Three U.S. soldiers
were killed and 32 were wounded, mostly minor, in the battle.
One of the positions hardest hit was B Co, where the Tropic
Lightning soldiers were hard-pressed keeping their position from being overrun.
Twenty-one year old SGT Willie Jones, who just extended for six
months to stay with his unit, won the thanks of his buddies for scrambling from
bunker to bunker keeping them supplied with ammunition during the fast-moving
battle.
SP4 Yancy Kimberlin fired over 200 rounds from his shotgun at close
range. "He took it upon himself to kick every one of them out of our
perimeter," said his platoon leader 1LT Vince Okamoto.
Describing the action, Okamoto of Gardina, Calif., pointed to
craters just outside the perimeter saying, "some of them are from our
artillery. It was awfully close, but we loved every minute of it."
"I don't know how I'm still here," acting SGT Douglas E.
Helm, told M.G. F.K. Mearns, 25th Div Commanding General.
"You're still here because you were better than they were,"
GEN Mearns told him, pointing to the enemy dead outside the perimeter.
Co B 1SG Loring Q. Balowin of Rommey, W. Va., said some of the
North Vietnamese were wearing steel helmets and camouflage uniforms. "I
could see about 15 of them under the light from the flares," he recalled.
Air Force "Spookys" provided the illumination for the soldiers during the
fight.
Later in the morning, NVA soldiers' bodies were strewn all along
the perimeter, mingled with unexploded hand grenades and RPG rounds. Occasional
sniper fire cracked over the heads of the 2d Bn, 27th Inf Wolfhounds, as they
searched the treeline outside their perimeter.

"YOU'RE STILL HERE BECAUSE YOU WERE BETTER THAN THEY
WERE" - MG F.K. Mearns, Commanding General of the 25th Inf Div, reassures
Acting SGT Douglas E. Helm of Shippenberg, Pa., as he surveys the site of an
attack by an NVA battalion on a 2d Bn, 27th Inf, night perimeter less than three
hours after the enemy withdrew. LTC W.G. Skelton, Bn Co, listens in the
background. The attack took place at 2:50 a.m. 11 kms northwest of Saigon.
(Photo By MAJ A.J. Sullivan)

BG Preer Is New Asst Div Cmdr

Brigadier General Carleton Preer, Jr., has arrived in Vietnam to
assume duties as the 25th Infantry Division's Assistant Division Commander for
support.
GEN Preer will succeed Brigadier General William T. Gleason, who is
scheduled for reassignment in the near future. GEN Gleason has served with
the division since August, 1967.
GEN Preer comes to the Tropic Lightning Division from the
headquarters of the U.S. Continental Army Command (CONARC) at Fort Monroe, Va.,
where he was assistant deputy chief of staff for individual training.
Born March 27, 1917, in Tallassee, Alabama, Carleton Preer, Jr.,
was graduated from high school in Mariana, Florida in 1935 and from Auburn
University in 1939 as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery Reserve.
General Preer's World War II service includes a tour of duty as
Executive Officer and Commander of the 83d Armored Field Arty Bn, participating
with the 3d Armored (Spearhead) Div in Northern France, Normandy, Ardennes,
Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. Upon his return to the United
States, he served for a year on the faculty of the Arty School at Fort Sill,
Oklahoma.
He was commissioned in the Regular Army as a first lieutenant of
Cavalry in June, 1947. He attended the Advanced Armor Officer's Course
at Fort Knox, Kentucky, graduating with the Class of 1948. In August he
joined General Headquarters, Far East Command (later United Nations Command)
where he served until July, 1951 as Executive Officer to the Assistant Chief of
Staff for Operations.
Upon his return to the United States, he attended Command and
General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and served for three years on
the faculty.
In June, 1955, he joined the 11th Airborne Div at Fort Campbell,
Kentucky and assumed command of the 76th Tank Bn. After completing the
Airborne Course, he participated in the "Gyroscope" movement of that Div to
Germany. After serving 22 months as Bn CO, he joined Headquarters, Seventh
Army where he served until July 1958 as Chief of Training Division, G3 section.
Upon his return to the United States, he attended the Army War
College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, graduating with the class of 1958.
He then was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations,
Department of the Army, where he served with the Joint War Plans Branch.
After attending the Advanced Management Course at the University of
Pittsburgh, he was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for duty
with the U.S. Element to the NATO Military Committee and Standing Group.
He departed for Germany in June, 1963 to serve as the 50th
Regimental Commander of the Second Armored Cavalry. In the following
summer, he became Chief of Staff of the 4th Armored Div, and in July, 1965, he
was assigned to Headquarters, United States Army, Europe, where he became Chief,
Plans and Force Development Branch, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for
Operations.
Upon his return to the United States in June, 1966, he joined the
faculty of the Army War College and served as Course Director, U.S. National
Strategy and Military Program.
The new ADC has earned the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with
V, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Parachutist's Badge, Joint
Staff Identification Badge and Army General Staff Identification Badge.
The General was married to the former Virginia Price of Lawton,
Oklahoma on June 28, 1942, and is the father of two sons and one daughter.

Buddies Play Lifeguard For A Sinking Soldier

1ST BDE - SGT Robert J. Schmokel of Prior Lake, Minn., saved the
life of a drowning 25th Inf Div soldier when he fell into a canal with all his
field gear and a 20 pound mortar base plate strapped to his back.
The infantrymen of Co B, 2d Bn, 14th Inf, were ferrying across a
canal in rubber rafts when one of the rafts capsized in middle of the canal.
PFC John F. Canning of Brooklyn, N.Y. grasped for life as he found
his normal field gear and a 20 pound mortar base plate strapped to his back
was too much to cope with.
"When I first hit the water, I figured I could make it to the
shore, but my load was just too heavy for me to stay afloat," recalled
Canning.
Recognizing that his comrade was overtaken by his heavy load in the
deep canal, Schmokel swam to the aid of his distressed pal. With an
across-chest carrying position, the squad leader pulled the trooper to shore.

Yearbooks...

Do you know what your unit has done in
Vietnam?
Do the people back home know what is going on? Do they know
what Vietnam looks like? Or how you fit in?
The 25th Inf Div in Vietnam 1966-1967 yearbook will explain all in
full color and black and white glossy photos. Hundreds of them.
The yearbook will give the background to what you are doing now.
It is available at the Post Exchange. Get yours now, before they run out.

"Organization" is the name of the game. It holds true
throughout one's life. Starting in the family, it carries on to school
days and the "in crowd".
Now, as military men, we really see how a closely-knit organization
comprises a team. In combat it is a tough team, a hard-core team, a
winning team.
And teamwork means men working together as an effective unit.
The men in the military never really separate; for a bonding friendship is
welded within the horrors of war.
The 25th Inf Div Association is an organization which keeps Tropic
Lightning soldiers in touch with one another, after their tours of duty.
Life-long friendships are made in the service. Keep in touch
with your buddies. Anyone can join the Association by sending your name
and home address to: The 25th Infantry Division Association, PO Box
101, Arlington, Virginia 22210
Dues are four dollars per year.
If you plan to attend college after your tour, your Association
makes it possible to win a one thousand dollar scholarship towards the
completion of your education.

Arty To Be Two Fields

The Department of the Army recently announced the formation of two
separate career fields for artillery officers.
Artillery officers below the grade of COL will be managed as either
Air Defense Artillery or Field Artillery officers by their respective career
branches. Field Artillery officers will remain in the present branch.
A separate office for the career management of Air Defense
Artillery officers will be established. Artillery Colonels will continue
to be managed by the Colonel's Division, Office of Personnel Operations
because of requirements of officers of this grade and length of service.
The doctrines, missions, equipment and techniques of Air Defense
Artillery and Field Artillery have created two widely separate fields causing a
need for separate concentration of skills and efforts.
Two career branches will provide a tailored response to the dual
missions assigned and to the anticipated professional requirements of future
weapons systems.
Army artillery officers whose previous branch experience has been
solely Air Defense or Field Artillery will remain in that particular career
fields. Those who have had assignments in both fields will be tentatively
assigned to the career field for which they appear best qualified. They
will be encouraged to submit a preference. Such preferences will be
reviewed and considered in light of career branch requirements.
Newly commissioned officers will continue to be given a choice
within limits established by worldwide military requirements. The
assignment policies for enlisted men are not affected by this program.
Insignia for the new branch of Air Defense Artillery and the
current artillery branch are under review. During this interim period, the
current artillery branch insignia remains the authorized insignia for wear.

Test New Uniforms

Two new U.S. Army work uniforms, one for aviation crewmen and one
for armored vehicle personnel, are being tested in the humid tropics at the U.S.
Army Tropic Test Center at Fort Clayton, Canal Zone.
The air crewman uniform, made from a new material which offers
superior fire protection, includes a shirt with three pockets, trousers with
five pockets, gloves, belt and a jacket. The shirt back, trousers and
sleeves are made of two layers of fabric.
The armored vehicle crewman uniform is a one piece, lightweight
garment, flame resistent, with protection for 95 percent of the wearer's body.
Armored vehicle crewmen in the Southern Command will test the uniforms for a year by wearing them
during all field and garrison activities. (ANF)

MOS Restrictions Eased For Promotion Of EM

The Department of the Army has announced that restrictions against
promoting soldiers in over-strength military occupational specialties (MOS) were
suspended on June 1, 1968.
The decision has been made to permit promotions in all MOS's for
an eight month period. During this time, the Office of Personnel
Operations
will study the policy of freezing promotions in over-strength MOS's to see if
the restriction is necessary.
The status of all skills will be monitored and if a freeze becomes
necessary, it will be reinstated. Tests have already indicated this is not
necessary, however.
All other criteria for promotion will remain unchanged.

Camera Lost?

The R&R Detachment in Bangkok has on hand a quantity of cameras
that were left in various places in Bangkok by servicemen who were on R&R.
Individuals who have lost a camera in that country may write direct
to OIC, USMAC-THAI/JUSMAGTHAI R&R Detachment, APO 96346 giving a complete
description of the lost property.
Cameras not claimed after a period of 90 days will be disposed of in
accordance with current regulations.

The TROPIC LIGHTNING NEWS is an authorized publication of the 25th
Infantry Division. It is published weekly for all division units in the Republic of
Vietnam by the Information Office, 25th Infantry Division, APO San Francisco
96225. Army News Features, Army Photo Features, Armed Forces Press Service and Armed
Forces News Bureau material are used. Views and opinions expressed are not necessarily
those of the Department of the Army. Printed in Tokyo, Japan, by Pacific Stars and
Stripes.

1ST BDE - Sharp-eyed soldiers of the 25th Inf Div's 2d
Bn, 14th Inf, saw through Charlie's camouflage and captured two significant caches of
weapons and rockets on the same day 50 kms northwest of Saigon.
PFC William S. Murphy of Decatur, Ill., was credited with
discovering Co A's cache of 62 weapons. "I was walking along and saw a
concrete slab covered with bamboo leaves. I lifted it and saw a pistol
grip at the bottom of the hole," Murphy recalled.
The company then set up all-around security and began a thorough
search of the area. Another entrance was found, and investigation of the
complex revealed the large cache deep underground.
"Murphy was down in the hole passing up weapons, and I thought he
would never quit," remarked PFC Jack Calfee of Miami, Fla.
Included in the Viet Cong storehouse were: 15 submachine guns, a
.30 caliber 1917 Browning water-cooled machine gun with tripod, two light
machine guns, 22 CHICOM carbines, and 15 German Mauser rifles.
Close by, Co C was waiting for Co A to evacuate their cache when
they discovered four 107mm rockets, numerous documents containing Viet Cong
artillery data, and a quadrangle used in plotting artillery fire.
"We were moving carefully through the brush when we came upon a
lot of spider holes," said SGT Roscoe G. Brown of Pompano Beach, Fla. "We knew then there had to be something important in the area."
A search of the area revealed several tunnels and bunkers, some of
which appeared to have been occupied recently.
"I was ready to go down into a tunnel," recalled a grenadier,
"when I saw a camouflaged 105 round lying next to the entrance. We had
our demo men blow the round in place and we continued the search."
Along with the rockets and documents, the infantrymen of Co C also
found several plastic rain coats. "The rain coats will sure come in
handy during the rainy season," joked SP4 William Johnson of San Augustine,
Tex.

3D BDE - An overnight record total of 50 radiotelephone calls were
completed to the United States by the MARS (Military Affiliated Radio System)
station of the 3d Bde, 25th Inf Div.
The skein of two-score-and-ten calls, a record for the Dau Tieng
station, is believed to be a record for a two-radio hookup transmitting only
1250 watts power. The record was set during the night of May 27 to 28.
Enabling 50 infantrymen to talk with families and loved ones were
the four member staff of Station AB8AAC of the 587th Sig Co, headed by SP5
Michael L. Jackson of Memphis, Tenn.
Jackson credited "unusually good atmospheric conditions" with
making it possible for the calls to go through. Receiving the radio
transmissions stateside and relaying them to the soldiers' homes were
signalmen at The Presidio, Calif., and Forts Belvoir, Virginia, and Bragg, North
Carolina.
"We actually ran out of customers for a brief time," Jackson
said. A few quick requests to units around the base camp quickly solved
that problem, however, as numerous volunteers eagerly agreed to call the folks
back home.
According to Jackson, the calls are beamed over the North Pole,
except for attempted contacts through Hawaii. Costs for the five minute
calls are charged only from the stateside military post relaying the radio
transmission to the stateside phone receiving the call.
"Usually it only costs about two bucks, and sometimes less,"
Jackson said.

COME IN! - Tuning up his record-setting transmitter for
another morale-boosting call to the United States, SP4 William Frakes of the
587th Sig Co adjusts frequency. (Photo by SP4 Bill
Sluis)

2/12 Rolls Bike Riders

3D BDE - Infantrymen of Charlie Company, 2d
Bn, 12th Inf, ambushed
and killed two enemy soldiers 6,000 meters east of Dau Tieng.
Members of the 3d Bde., 25th Inf Div force reported that the action
occurred about two a.m. when the two VC were seen passing about 25 meters away.
"They were riding double on a bicycle. One of them was
carrying a weapon" recounted PFC Robert Wilkes of Staten Island, New York.
Split second timing in triggering an antipersonnel mine and an
accurately thrown grenade made small arms fire unnecessary.
In addition to the weapon, an AK47, eight magazines of ammunition
and a number of documents were captured and returned to Dau Tieng for
translation.

Celebration Cut Short By Scramble

1ST BDE - No! It couldn't happen! Could it?
Well it did happen to the 187th Aslt Heli Co located in Tay Ninh.
The company, part of the 269th Avn Bn Black Barons, OPCON to the
25th Inf Div, was celebrating a redesignation ceremony of their new name,
Crusaders, and its first in-country anniversary when the scramble came.
Every member of the company was standing tall in starched fatigues
and spit shined boots; the 25th Div band lending glamour to the pomp and
ceremony.
COL Nicholas Psaki, 12th Avn Grp CO, LTC Edgar Todd, CO of the
269th Cbt Avn Bn and LTC William Bauman, former 187th commander were present at
the historic and sober occasion.
After a large awards ceremony and in the middle of MAJ Russell J.
Folta, Commanding Officer's, speech, an alert for the entire company to
respond to a combat assault mission near Phouc Vinh was received.
Instantly the field cleared, pomp and ceremony forgotten. The
mission lasted into the hours of darkness.
Later that night, starched fatigues soaked with perspiration and
dark with dirt, the spirit of the Crusaders never waned as they calmly joined
their astounded guest for a steak dinner and entertainment.

Tax Collector Collects Taxes,
Dragons Collect Collectors

1ST BDE - A 25th Inf Div rifle platoon put an end to a Viet Cong
officer's tax collecting during a night ambush 7 kms southwest of Saigon.
Soldiers of the 1st Plt of A Co, 2d Bn, 14th Inf, killed the
officer as he led a squad of Viet Cong guerrillas past the platoon.
"We had received word that the local guerrillas were collecting
taxes during the daylight hours and withdrawing from Saigon by night," said
SGT Kelly Adams of Ft. Worth, Tex. "The intelligence information paid
off because 'Charlie' came walking out of the village around midnight."
The 25th Div soldiers opened up with automatic weapons and small
arms as the VC squad crept across the rice paddies. The surprised enemy
immediately took cover behind the dikes.
"The rest of the squad got away but I could see one of them fall
as we opened up," stated SP4 James H. Cook of Troutman, N.C. "We got
their leader and he was sure holding the goods."
After the enemy fled, Adams and Cook made a careful search of the
area and found the dead officer. The documents, weapons and money he was
carrying were returned to base camp for further investigation.
"Documents containing a list of persons the group collected taxes
from, 18,000 piasters, as well as an identification card found on the officer
confirmed the soldier's identity and purpose in the area," concluded CPT
Harry Joyner of Wichita Falls, Tex., the Dragon intelligence officer.
In addition to the documents and money, a set of web gear and two
pistols were captured.

Vote
- For Freedom

FIGHTING THE ELEMENTS - 25th Inf Div soldiers of Co A, 2d
Bn, 27th Inf, struggle to free PFC Donald E. Rummel, 20, of Candor, N.Y., who
became the prisoner of another type of Vietnam enemy - monsoon mud.
With the aid of a rope Rummel's squad got him to dry land after a 45 minute
battle. The Wolfhound trooper sank in the quicksand-like mud as his
company was maneuvering through rice paddies northwest of Saigon. (Photo
by SP4 Bill Clevenge)

Page
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TROPIC LIGHTNING
NEWS
July 1, 1968

Page
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TROPIC LIGHTNING
NEWS
July 1, 1968

3/13th Artillery
Unit of The Week - Arty;
With 155s And 8-Inchers

The 3d Bn, 13th Arty is the direct descendent of Btry C, 3d Bn,
13th Field Arty Regt activated at Camp Stewart, El Paso, Texas on June 1, 1917.
Then a battery of 4.7 inch horse-drawn howitzers, C battery moved
to Charlotte, North Carolina, with the 4th Inf Div in December of 1917.
Authorized motorized howtzers in 1918, the unit was sent to France where it was
issued French 155mm howitzers. It participated in five major campaigns
during World War I and saw occupation duty in Germany at cessation of
hostilities.
The battery arrived in Hawaii in October of 1920, and remained for
21 years, testing 75mm pack howitzers for use in mountain terrain and winning
the Knox Trophy as outstanding battery in the U.S. Army.
In August of 1941, the 24th and 25th Inf Divs were formed, C Btry
being assigned to the 24th division in Oahu. In 1944, the division was
sent to Australia for training. Then for the remainder of the war, the
13th Arty participated in four major campaigns and earned the arrowhead on three
of four campaign ribbons.
After occupation duty in Japan for five years, the 13th was
transferred to Korea where it saw a majority of the worst fighting. It
participated in eight major campaigns, and was twice awarded the Republic of
Korea Presidential Unit Citation, received the Distinguished Unit Citation in
the name of President Truman and then began occupation duty in Korea.
In January, 1966, the battalion was redesignated a self-propelled
battery and all howtizers replaced with the new M-109 self-propelled howitzers.
The battalion left for Vietnam on March 17, 1966.
Since then "The Clan" has participated in several major
operations, including Lihue, Wahiawa, Attleboro, Junction City, Quyet Thang and
presently, Toan Thang.
Members of "The Clan" will never forget the battle of Soui Tres
during operation Junction City when a 105mm howitzer battery came under repeated
human wave assaults and B Btry poured thousands of pounds of high explosive
shells at the enemy, saving the other battery and killing 357 enemy soldiers.
The nickname "The Clan" was officially designated in August of
1966 after the battalion had unofficially been using it since World War II.
In the Korean War, "Q-Clan" was the only printed words on 13th Artillery
vehicles, a throwback to when the 13th Arty played an athletic contest with the
27th Inf Reg in 1940 and when a fight broke out, the entire 13th Arty stormed
out of the bleachers en masse to mop up the field. Every member then denied
the event.
The close knit unity prevails in Vietnam today as the 3d Bn, 13th
Arty lives up to its motto, "Without Fear, Favor or in Hope of Reward."

FIELD EXPEDIENT BATHTUB? - A Tomahawk soldier from the 4th
Bn (Mech), 23d Inf, takes a break from it all with a refreshing bath in a
shallow well one mile north of Saigon during Operation Toan Thang. (Photo
by SP4 Walt Chaikivsky)

Ambush Stops Short

3D BDE - Elements of three platoons of Charlie Co, 2d
Bn, 12th Inf
engaged a small force of enemy troops, killing two of the VC, east of Dau Tieng.
The 3d Bde, 25th Inf Div, force was enroute to night ambush sites
when the rear elements of the group made contact with an estimated force of six
to eight Viet Cong.
The Americans had halted for a short time to begin breaking into
individual platoons to move into their night positions.
"We had just begun to move again when the shooting started,"
stated 1LT R. W. McDaniel of Kinston, N.C.
The last man in the formation, PFC Frank Ybarra of Merced, Calif.,
recalled, "I was the first person they saw. I'd say they were about
ten meters away."
PFC Michael L. Hahn of Morton, Wash., opened fire as six VC bolted
for cover along the woodline and returned small arms and RPG rocket fire.
Two enemy were killed as the rest of the enemy force fled a fierce
barrage of M-16 rifle fire and M-79 grenades laid down by the G.I.s.

RECON PLT GETS VC CYCLE GANG

3D BDE - Investigation of a 13-man Vietnamese motorcycle pack
enabled the Recon Plt of the 2d Bn (Mech), 22d Inf, to detain a Viet Cong
resupply group.
The platoon was sweeping a road between Dau Tieng and Tay Ninh when
the pack of twelve motorcycles and a bicycle thundered up.
The "Triple Deuce" platoon leader, 1LT Donald Skrove of
Alexandria, Minn., suspicious of the fact that each of the 13 vehicles carried
three 100 pound sacks of rice, ordered the group to halt.
A check of identification cards revealed that five of the
motorcyclists possessed no documents, while several of the others had altered
I.D.s.
Two of the 3d Bde, 25th Inf Div armored personnel carriers, led by
SP4 David A. Reese of Philadelphia, Pa., were dispatched to shepherd the group
back to Dau Tieng for questioning. But herding the pack proved to be quite
a problem.
"The Vietnamese gave us all sorts of trouble. They
pretended to have motor trouble and would stop their bikes right in front of the
APC's. At one point, one of the 13 tried to escape into a village, but
he was quickly recaptured," Reese said.
At Dau Tieng the 13 Vietnamese were taken into custody by military
police, whose investigation revealed that they were part of the local Viet Cong
supply system.

Dragons Blast VC Base Camp

1ST BDE - In 13 hours of fierce fighting with a North Vietnamese
Army (NVA) company that recently arrived in South Vietnam, a 25th Inf Div rifle
company killed seven enemy soldiers.
The Operation Toan Thang action occurred on a Co D, 2d Bn, 14th Inf, reconnaissance in force sweep 5 kms southwest of Saigon.
"We came under heavy small arms fire from our right flank, and we
immediately returned fire," said SGT Harold H. Massey of Grove Spring,
Missouri.
Enemy positions were confirmed and a series of on line assaults
supported by artillery and air strikes were aimed against the hostile forces
throughout the day-long battle.
"Charlie was in well-fortified positions within a treeline and he
sure had his stuff together," stated SGT Peter H. Hall of Benton, Arkansas.
"We took cover and let the big shells take over."
A total of three on line assaults were made before the men of Delta
made a final advance into the enemy base camp finding seven dead enemy and
various supplies and weapons.

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TROPIC LIGHTNING
NEWS
July 1, 1968

GIs Stuck In Mud Need Recovery Team

CU CHI - The tank was up to its headlights in mud, and to the crew,
it looked hopeless. But, to the recovery team from the 725th Maint Bn,
getting the more than 50 tons of metal to dry ground was a routine mission that
had begun early that morning.
SGT Stephan H. Frazier of Rose Hill, Va., jumped on the driver's
seat, stepped on the starter and drew a loud bellow and a cloud of exhaust smoke
from the M88 track recovery vehicle.
The track commander, CWO Thomas R. Parker of Huntsville, Ala.,
yelled some commands to his men to make sure that all the equipment was secure.
The four-man, Co C recovery team was on its way to Trang Bang.
Following the slow, caterpillar crawl of the convoy, the team
arrived on the scene two hours later. Parker jumped off and surveyed the rice
paddies for some high and hard ground where the tank retriever could start
pulling.
The boom was raised; the 1¼ -inch thick cables were thrown down;
the 'shackles were connected; and the long haul of dragging the cables through
400 meters of knee-deep mud began.
The first cable was connected to the buried tank, and the men went
back to connect two more. Finally, the pull began, and the tank was
inched to dry land.
Before the recovery team left Trang Bang, they pulled two more
tanks from the mire and destroyed a Viet Cong bunker with the eight-foot wide
blade on the front of the M-88. And, on the trip back to base camp, they
came under a barrage of enemy mortar fire.
This was just one of many such recovery missions. The 725th
Maint Bn teams risk their lives daily to keep the men on the line moving.
Often, the teams must stay in the field for several days to complete the
mission.
But, it's not a thankless job. Most of the armored
personnel carrier and tank crew watch the recovery, speechless. Then they walk up to the
recovery team with an extended hand and "Thanks a lot buddy."

Story And Photos
By Sp4 Roman Matz

STUCK - A 52-ton tank sinks in the mud as the crew awaits a
recovery team from the 725th Maint Bn.

BAILING OUT - While waiting for help, a tanker tries to
keep his home dry.

HOOKING
UP - With the help of the tank crew, the recovery team
connects the cables from the M-88 to the tank.

CU CHI - The Clan finally got together for the first time since the
3d Bn, 13 Arty arrived in Vietnam. The fires of all four batteries were
recently concentrated on one target simultaneously.
Always before, the clan's four batteries were too far apart for
them all to fire on the same target at the same time, and massed fires were
accomplished with less than the complete battalion.
However, with Btry C near Trung Lap, Btry B at a fire support base
near Hoc Mon, and Btrys A and D in Cu Chi Base Camp, the four-battalion firing
on a reported enemy position was finally possible.
LTC Homer W. Kiefer, Jr., Bn CO, advised the Fire Direction Center
from his helicopter as the intense barrage of 155 millimeter and eight-inch
howitzer shells pounded the enemy position.
The battalion is now working to perfect the massed fire technique
using all weapons within firing range, including the giant 175 millimeter gun.

A Wrestling Match Detains VC Officer

1ST BDE - In hand to hand combat that ended up in a canal, a 25th
Inf Div soldier recently detained an enemy suspect that turned out to be the
executive officer of a Viet Cong unit.
SP4 Curtis Folmnsbee from Bridgeport, Ill., of Co B, 4th Bn, 9th
Inf "Manchus", was covering a trail with SP4 Roger Tao from Watsonville,
Calif., and SP4 Donald Balderson of Richmond, Va., when the incident occurred in
the Go Vap area north of Saigon just a few hours after sunset.
"I was laying on the side of the trail with my head in such a
position that I had good vision to my front," recalled Folmnsbee.
"Tao and Balderson were also laying down but they were behind me.
I saw soldiers walking down the trail; the first one looked like one of the guys
in my platoon, so I didn't pay much attention to them," Folmnsbee added.
"They both walked up on us and the first one stepped on my leg.
Both of them looked down at us and we looked up at them.
"The one in the back screamed and ran down the trail. Then
all hell broke loose. I jumped up and grabbed the Viet Cong that was
standing over me. I wrestled with him trying to keep him from shooting me
with his pistol," recalled Folmnsbee.
"We fell, and in the struggle for the possession of the pistol we
both rolled in the canal next to the road. Balderson jumped in and gave me
a hand.
"The Viet Cong calmed down after he had swallowed a couple of
gallons of water. Tao, in the meantime, was firing a M-79 grenade launcher
at the fleeing Viet Cong. I took the pistol away from the VC and we took
him to the captain," related Folmnsbee.
Later, the detainee was determined to be the executive officer of
the Viet Cong unit that the Manchus were fighting.
The Viet Cong officer proved to be a valuable find, as he related
the position, strength and mission of his unit in the area.

Page
8
TROPIC LIGHTNING
NEWS
July 1, 1968

VC Paymaster Is Slain,
Uncover Money, Munitions

COLD CACHE - Sharing the wealth, temporarily, members of
the 3d Plt, Delta Co, 2d Bn, 12th Inf, pose with more than 100,000 piasters
seized in a night ambush. The 3d Bde, 25th inf Div, unit killed four enemy
and captured several pistols and enemy award citations in the raid. (Photo
By SP4 Charles Haughey)

3D BDE - An ambush triggered by infantrymen of Delta Co, 2d
Bn,
12th Inf, brought a rich harvest of documents and arms, and more than 100,000
piasters of enemy military funds.
The money was taken from an apparent Viet Cong paymaster who was
among four enemy killed in the pre-dawn trap.
The 3d Bde, 25th Inf Div ambush patrol was moving in single file
enroute to a night ambush site three kms southwest of Dau Tieng when they heard
shouting.
The 17 member patrol, led by 1LT Walter L. Kreeger of Stockton,
Calif., positioned in a hasty ambush.
"I saw a light approaching along the road from the right.
It moved to a point directly in front of us and went out," said SGT James A.
Ming of Lomita, Calif.
Four men appeared riding on two bicycles. "I waited until
the bikes reached the place I'd seen the light go out, which I figure had been
a signal man. Then the five of us opened up," said Ming.
The VC ran for the far side of the road, where they were hit
immediately by the force waiting with Kreeger.
At dawn a reconnaissance of the area turned up the four enemy dead.

ARMOR SURPRISES VC

1ST BDE - While moving to set up a night ambush recently, the 2d
Bn, 34th Armor's Recon Plt, upset the plans of a Viet Cong probing force and
repulsed the enemy near the 25th Inf Div's base camp.
"We had just left the camp and headed northeast to our
position," said SSG James L. Lawrence, patrol leader from Syracuse, N.Y.,
"when our point man spotted a couple of VC."
"They were moving at a pretty good pace," pointman SP4 James
Boucard of Clarkston, Mich., added, "and they were headed right for the
perimeter.'
Lawrence continued, "We were only about 100 meters out, so we
decided to lay low and see what they were up to. About five minutes later a
squad size force followed. They were moving from north to south, then all
of a sudden they turned and headed east.
"The first two in the squad, about 50 meters in front of us,
walked right past us, but the third spotted us and was pointing at us. I
grabbed my M-16 and we opened up. They all hit the ground and we heard
moans so we knew we had hit them. I guess we must have really surprised
them because they didn't even return fire," Lawrence said.
After the skirmish the patrol moved up to the enemy's position to
check out the area. They found two dead VC, an AK-47 with 135 rounds of
ammo and three Chicom grenades.

HIGH WIRE ACT - High above the Saigon River at Dau
Tieng,
two members of the 3d Bde, 25th Inf Div, work to repair communications lines
damaged during a rainstorm. From left are SP5 Wade E. Lasister of Hqs, 2d
Bn, 12th Inf and PFC Adam A. Locke of brigade headquarters. (Photo by SP4
Charles Haughey)

Enemy Cycle-Rider Too Slow For Speedy White Warriors

3D BDE - Fast action by members of the 2d
Plt, B Co, 2d Bn, 12th Inf, resulted in the death of one Viet Cong on the outskirts of a suspected VC
village in a recent action northeast of Dau Tieng.
The mission, a reconnaissance in force by the 3d Bde, 25th Inf Div,
troopers was nearing completion when the action occurred. The 2d Plt had
just left the village after completing a search and was positioned in an
adjoining woodline awaiting the withdrawal of the company command group led by
CPT Patrick McCarthy of Yakima, Wash.
Suddenly an enemy soldier was spotted riding into the village on a
bicycle directly at the Command Group.
"I aimed my pistol at him and shouted for him to stop,"
McCarthy stated. "He just barrelled right through us. I had to
move to avoid being hit." McCarthy explained that he couldn't fire
because of civilians behind the rider.
Once through the village, the VC left his bicycle and ran for the
woods.
The 2d Plt members spotted him and yelled for him to stop but the
VC only threw a bag down and continued running.
"He was about 50 meters away when we opened fire," stated SGT
Robert F. Pate of Louisville, Kentucky, a squad leader with the 2d Plt.
When the infantrymen checked out the VC and the bag he had thrown
away they found some documents and supplies commonly carried by VC and NVA
soldiers.